Pressure gauge assembly

ABSTRACT

A pressure gauge assembly combining a pressure gauge for gauging one or more pressure lines and a mounting bracket to which the gauge is releasably clamped under spring pressure and locked against release except when relieved of line pressure. The gauge is both connectable to any pressure lines and testable through the bracket and fluid-connected thereto without pipe fittings, and the gauge case has a removable magnifying face plate formed of a glass lens molded in a plastic rim.

United States Patent [72] lnventor Virgil L. Frantz Salem, Va. [2]]Appl. No. 868,131 [22] Filed Oct. 21, 1969 [45] Patented Sept. 7, 1971[73] Assignee Graham-White Sales Corporation Salem, Va.

[54] PRESSURE GAUGE ASSEMBLY 10 Claims, 12 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 73/420, 141/383, 285/325 [51] lnt.Cl G0ll7/00 [50] Field ofSearch 73/420, 431;285/325, 103, 67; 141/383 [56] References CitedUNITED STATES PATENTS 868,931 10/1907 Kuszmaul, Jr. 141/383 X 1,842,4621/1932 Smith 141/383 X 1,911,099 5/1933 White et a1. 73/431 1 2,206,4377/1940 Tracy 73/431 2,339,181 l/1944 Martinm. 73/420 2,517,759 8/1950Bentzen 141/383 X 2,958,219 11/1960 McIntyre et a]. 73/4 3,102,4279/1963 Trostel 73/420 3,260,119 7/1966 Jones 73/420 3,375,718 4/1968Robinson et al. 73/420 Primary Examiner-Louis R. Prince AssistantExaminer-Daniel M. Yasich Attorney-Wilmer Mechlin L n n PATENTED SEP 7i971 sum 2 OF 3 FIG. 4 7

FIG. 6

Inventor:

Virgil L. Frantz his Attorney PRESSURE GAUGE ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION concerned.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The primary object of the present invention isto provide an improved pressure gauge assembly including a mountingbracket permanently connectable to one or more pressure lines to begauge releasably clamped to the bracket, which has noi pipe fittingsbetween the bracket and the gauge and locks the gauge against unclampingand removal except when it is relieved of line pressure.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved pressure gaugeassembly of the character described wherein the mounting bracket also isadapted for connection thereto of a testing device for testing the gaugein situ and is particularly adapted for connecting a duplex gauge to apair of pressure lines for simultaneous gauging thereof.

Among the features of the invention is a spring plate secured to a baseof the gauge through which the gauge is both mechanically andfluid-connected to the mounting bracket. For the mechanical connection,the plate has counterpart sides which not only enable the gauge to bereversed in the direction of its mounting on the bracket but also permitthe 7 plate to be reversed on the gauge in case of a mechanical failureof either side. For each fluid connection, the preferred plate isapertured to receive a rollpin or other short connecting tube and asurrounding rubber or like grommet, the latter facing on both sides ofthe plate for sealing between bracket and the gauge and the formerprojecting beyond the grommet on both sides for positioning the gauge onthe bracket during assembly, as well as passing fluid therebetween andholding the grommet and itself in place. Another feature is theprovision for the case of the gauge of a magnifying face or cover plateformed of a glass lens molded in a breakage-resistant plastic rim ofsuch configuration as to accept a spring clip for releasably holding theplate in place, while permitting a plurality of gauges to be mountedabreast with minimum clearance therebetween. Not only does it have sucha cover plate, but the preferred case is itself made of transparentplastic, suitably Lexan," for ready observation of the workings of thegauge.

Other objects and features of the invention will appear hereinafter inthe detailed description, be particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims and be illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE DESCRIPTION FIG, 1 is a front elevational view of a plurality ofthe improved gauge assemblies of the present invention mounted abreastin a panel;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the structure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of Y FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary bottom plan view on an enlarged scale of one ofthe improved assemblies;

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the assembly of FIG. 4 with mountingbracket removed;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the mounting bracket of FIG. 4 removed fromthe gauge;

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view on the scale of FIG. 4 of the caseof one of the assemblies with the gauge removed, taken along lines 7-7of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view on an enlarged scaletaken along lines 8-8 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary end elevational view showing the clamp of FIG. 8in open position;

FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view taken along lines 10-10 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a vertical sectional view on a further enlarged scale, takenalong lines 11-l l of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 12 is a bottom plan view of the structure of FIG. ll.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now in detail to the drawings in whichlike reference characters designate like parts, the improved pressuregauge assembly of the present invention, designated as I, is adaptedgenerally for gauging fluid pressure in any installation andparticularly designed for installations, as in diesel locomotives,requiring periodic testing for accuracy.

The improved gauge assembly I is comprised of a pressure gauge 2 and amounting bracket or mount 3 to which the gauge is releasably clamped.The gauge 2, of necessity, will have a pressure range suitable for theparticular installation and ordinarily will be of the Bourdon type.While its releasable connection to the mounting bracket 3 permits thegauge to be removed, as necessary, for repair or replacement, thebracket 3 is designed for permanent installation for mounting theoriginal or a replacement gauge and permanently connecting the latter tothe pressure to be gauged.

If desired, the gauge assembly 1 may be used for indicating the pressurein a single fluid pressure line. However, it is particularlyadvantageous for simultaneously indicating or gauging the pressures in apair or plurality of pressure lines (not shown) and has been soillustrated as exemplary of the invention. Thus, in the illustratedembodiment, the gauge 2 is a duplex gauge, having as pressure-responsiveindicators a pair of hands 4 conventionally mounted on concentric shafts5 linked to an associated pair of Bourdon tubes (not shown), and a dialor face 6 scaled or calibrated for the pressure range for which thegauge is designed. The tubes are suitably fixed at the bottom to a base7 having therein a pair of spaced passages or passageways 8, eachleading, usually downwardly, from one of the tubes toward the mountingbracket 3.

Enclosing the mechanism of the gauge 2 but leaving a lower part of thebase 7 thereof exposed, is a case 9 having a removable cover orfaceplate 10, the latter preferably magnifying and formed by a glasslens 11 permanently molded in and integral with a rim 12 releasably andsuitably slidably fitting over the otherwise open front end (not shown)of the case's body 13. In the preferred gauge, both the rim l2 and body13 are made of transparent, substantially relatively unbreakable orbreakage-resistant plastic, such as Lcxan, and the cover plate 10 isconveniently held in place by a doublearmed spring clip 14 pivoted tothe back of the body 13 concentric with the shafts 5 and normallyengaging or clipped to opposite sides of a peripheral ridge 15 on therim 12 and disengageable therefrom simply by applying inward pressure toits arms 16. Projecting or outstanding radially from the balance of therim 12, the peripheral connecting ridge I5 desirably is interrupted ator other suitable intervals around the rim by correspondingly spacedflats 17 for enabling a plurality of the assemblies to be mountedabreast or in juxtaposition, with minimum lateral clearancetherebetween, in a common mounting frame or panel 18 in the mannerillustrated in FIG. 1.

As befits the illustrated duplex gauge 2, the mounting bracket 3 isadapted to connect each of the passages 8 in the base 7 of the gauge toone of the pair of fluid pressure pipes or lines (not shown), whosepressures the gauge is to indicate. For that purpose, the mountingbracket 3 has in a unitary or one piece body 19 a pair of laterallyspaced outlet ports 20,

each leading toward and alignable with one of the gauge passages 8 and,for each outlet port, an inlet port 21. Each inlet port 21 leads and isconnectable to one of the pair of pressure pipes, suitably through apipe fitting (not shown) threaded into a socket 22 in the bottom of thebody 19. The outlet and inlet ports and 21 associated with each gaugepassage 8, open inwardly at axially spaced positions, the outlet portforward of the inlet port, onto one of a pair of laterally or radiallyspaced bores or apertures 23 extending longitudinally through the body.Like the single central bore or aperture of the individual gauge fittingdisclosed and described in detail in my copending application Ser. No.767,631, filed Oct. 15, 1968, each bore 23 is threaded at both ends forreceiving at the rear a cap 24 and normally receiving at the front aplug 25 and contains, in a valve chamber 26 in a rear part thereof ontowhich the inlet port 21 opens, a shuttle valve or shuttle 27spring-urged forwardly to close that port, but normally pressedrearwardly by the plug to hold the port open. Thus, as in thatapplication, the shuttle valve 27 will automatically close the inletport 21 and thereby shut, cut off or close the outlet port 20 from linepressure when the plug 25 is removed and enable the outlet port to besubjected or exposed, instead, to testing pressure on insertion in placeof the plug of a special testing probe (not shown), such as shown inthat application, which, as opposed to the plug, does not project orextend rearwardly into the valve chamber 26.

Rather than connecting the base 7 of the gauge 2 directly to themounting bracket 3, the gauge preferably is both fluid and mechanicallyconnected to the mounting bracket through a spring plate 28 interposedtherebetween and suitably screwed or otherwise releasably secured to thebase. An integral part of the gauge 2, the preferred gauge base 7 is arectangular block rigid with or fixed to the gauge tubes and having aflat bottom 29 and front and rear sides 30 disposed parallel to the dial6 of the gauge. Also generally rectangular, the spring plate 28conveniently is coextensive endwise with the base, but projects, extendsor outstands laterally beyondthe base sides 30 and presents or hastherebeyond upwardly bowed or bent sides 31. Preferably counterpart, theprojecting sides3l also preferably are formed by or have a center fingeror catch 32 sandwiched between or bracketed by and spaced by slottingfrom a pair of side fingers or catches 33. Shorter or of less projectionboth outwardly and upwardly than the related center finger 32, the sidefingers 33 of each side are adapted for interlocking engagement withinturned or instanding flanges or latches 34 of a spring clamp 35screwed or otherwise fixed or secured to the back of the mountingbracket 3 and projecting upwardly thereabove sufficiently to receive oraccommodate the side fingers between the inturned flanges and a suitablyflat upper surface 36 on the top of the bracket. For enabling them toengage or grip the side fingers 33 on either side 31 of the spring plate28 without engaging the associated or adjoining center finger 32, theflanges 34 are laterally spaced or separated by a center gap 37 in thespring clamp 35 of sufficient width to receive or accommodate the centerfinger.

With either side clampable to the back of the mounting bracket 3 by thefixed spring clamp 35, the spring plate 28 has its opposite sidereleasably clampable to the front of the mounting bracket 3 by a movableclamp or latch member engageable with the adjoining center finger 32 andcapable by pulling thereagainst of drawing the spring plate downwardlytoward and finally into locked position against the top of the mountingbracket 3. Having these capabilities, the illustrated clamping member 38is of a type having a pair of hinged arms, one 39, screwed or otherwisesecured to and projecting below the front of the mounting bracket 3between the bores 23, and the other 40 hinged for vertical swinging tothe bottom of the secured arm and mounting for relative longitudinalsliding a latch plate or latch 41 and an actuating cam 42 for bothlongitudinally moving or projecting and retracting the latch plate andlocking the latter in retracted position. The cam 42 has for manualactuation a suitably fiat folding handle 43 pivotally connected theretoand in the locking position of the latch 41 foldable downwardly againstthe outer arm. For turning or screwing into and out of the related bore23, each front plug 25 has on its outer end a knurled knob 44, which,when the handle and the latch member's outer arm 40 and the diameter ofthe knob and size and configuration of the handle are such as to lockthe handle and therethrough the cam 42 and latch 41 against movement torelease position while either plug is in place. With each shuttle valve27 in open position for transmitting line pressure between the adjoininginlet and outlet ports 21 and 20 only when its plug is in place andautomatically shifting to closed position on removal of the plug, thegauge 2 is automatically cut off from line pressure both when it isreleased for removal and when it is being tested.

For establishing a fluid connection or communication between each outletport 20 and the related inlet passage 8 in the gauge base 7, the springplate 38 is apertured, as at 45, centrally of its sides 31 or along itslongitudinal centerline to receive a short or stub connecting tube 46and a surrounding rubber or like sealing grommet or gasket 47.Double-faced and projecting beyond opposite or upper and lower faces ofthe spring plate 28, each grommet suitably is peripherally grooved forpositioning in its aperture 45, while each connecting tube 46 not onlyprojects substantially beyond both faces of the related grommet, but if,as preferred, it is a rollpin, exerts an outward radial force whicheffectively holdsboth itself and the grommet in position and againstrotation or turning relative to the spring plate. The opposite ends ofeach rollpin or other tube 46, when the gauge 2 is clamped to themounting bracket 3, fit in a pair of aligned cylindrical sockets 48 inthe confronting surfaces of the gauge base 7 and mounting bracket, ofwhich the socket in the mounting bracket is connected or open to theoutlet port 20 and the socket in the base is connected to the inletpassage 8. Surrounded at its opening onto one or another of theconfronting surfaces of the base and mounting bracket 3 by part of theflat surface 29 or 36 thereof, the confronting pair of sockets 48 areeffectively sealed by the double-faced grommet 47 against leakage pastthe related connecting tube 46, whether the latter is acontinuous-walled tube or a longitudinally split rollpin, and despitethe minor slop or looseness in the fit of the tube, particularly in thesocket in the bracket, required for the limited swinging or hinging ofthe spring plate 28 against the clamping flanges 34 needed in clampingand unclamping the gauge.

Constructed in the above manner, the improved gauge assembly 1 not onlyis installable alone or with one or more like assemblies in a suitableframe or panel 18, such as illustrated in FIG. 1, but requires for theinstallation only the mounting of the mounting bracket 3 on the frameand the connection to the bracket of the pressure line or lines to begauged. Both the mounting of the mounting bracket 3 on the frame and itsconnection to one or more pressure lines ordinarily will be permanentand, as explained above, the assembly requires no pipe fittings exceptfor connecting the mounting bracket to any pressure line.

Possessing the capability of the gauge fitting disclosed in myapplication Ser. No. 767,631, of locking the gauge 2 against release orremoval while the plug or plugs 25 are in place and the gaugeconsequently connected or exposed to line pressure, by the overlap ofthe then folded clamp handle 43 by each plug knob 44, the improved gaugeassembly, for a duplex or plural gauge, enables the single line fittingsdisclosed in that application to be replaced by the assemblys single orone mounting bracket and with duplication therein of the fluidconnections and valving, but not of the mechanical connection between itand the gauge.

The spring plate 28 interposed between the gauge 2 and the mountingbracket 3 not only serves as a mechanical and fluid connector orconnecting element between those members,

but, as part of the mechanical connection, is designed to act as aspring, which, by yieldably resisting clamping of the gauge to thebracket, ensures against any slack in the connection despitemanufacturing tolerances and wear. In so acting, the fingers 32 and 33of the spring plate 28 act as spring catches,

the disposition of which, vertically or normal to the confrontingsurfaces 29 and 36 of the base 7 and mounting bracket 3, relative to thefixed gripping or latch flanges 34 and the retracted or locking positionof the slide latch 41, is such that the engaged fingers are flexed orbent downwardly from their normal positions and thereby exert a springforce urging the base and mounting bracket toward each other when thegauge is locked to the bracket.

As the plate sides 31 are counterparts or duplicates and the connectingtubes 46 are centered therebetween, the gauge is lockable to themounting bracket 3 with its dial 6 and the front of the mounting bracket3 to which the plugs 25 and clamping. member 38 are applied, facing in,the same or opposite directions. With the gauge and mounting bracket 3so relatively reversible, the gauge assembly can readily be mounted inthe frame 18 for servicing from either the front or the back thereof,according to the direction" in which the bracket is disposed whensecured to the frame, and, since. in either disposition the gauge andbracket are lockable against relative movement, no direct attachment ofthe gauge to the frame is required to prevent relative movementtherebetween in the locked position of the gauge. The relativereversibility applying also to the spring plate 28 and the gauge base 7and only the center finger 32 on one and side fingers 32 on the otherside of the plate being engaged by the fixed and movable latches 34 and41 in a given mounting of the gauge, should any of the fingers of thisset break, an emergency repair can readily be made simply by removingthe gauge and reversing the plate thereon to present the other set offingers, now in the original disposition of the broken set, forengagement by the latches;

Tools are required for connecting the mounting bracket 3 to the frame 18and the one or more air lines to be gauged, as well as for theabove-described emergency repair following breakage of a finger 32 or 33of one of the sets. However, none are needed in connecting ordisconnecting the gauge and mounting bracket 3 or in the periodictesting of the gauge, since the plugs 25, replacement testing probes(not shown) and latch cam 42 all are adapted for direct manualactuation. Too, in applying the gauge to the mounting bracket, theconnecting tubes 46 projecting downwardly from the spring plate 28conveniently serve with the sockets 48 therefor in the mounting bracket,as positioning devices for correctly aligning the gauge and mountingbracket before they are clamped together.

From the above detailed description it will be apparent that there hasbeen provided an improved pressure gauge assembly, wherein a gauge isreleasably clamped to a mounting bracket, all permanent connections areto the bracket and the bracket is so valved as to enable the gauge to belocked against removal except when the gauge is cut off from linepressure. It should be understood that the described and disclosedembodiment is merely exemplary of the invention and that allmodifications are intended to be included that do not depart from thespirit of the invention and the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A pressure gauge assembly comprising a mounting bracket memberpermanently connectable to pressure line means to be gauged, a gaugemember, means on one of said members for releasably clamping said gaugemember to said bracket member, and means including tube means mountedagainst relative rotation on one of said members and receivable in theother member for sealingly connecting said members for passage of fluidtherebetween.

2. A pressure gauge assembly according to claim 1, including springmeans acting between said members for urging said members together onclamping of the gauge member to the bracket member.

enga ing confronting surfaces of the members for sealing there etween onclamping of the gauge member to the bracket member.

4. A pressure gauge assembly according to claim 3, wherein the springplate is secured to the gauge member and including spaced fixed andprojectable latch means mounted on the bracket member and spring catchmeans on opposite sides of v the spring plate and engageable bysaidlatch means for plurality of pressurelines and has therein aplurality of separate passages each leading from one of said linestoward a surface of the bracket member confronting the gauge member onclamping thereof to the bracket member, and the tube means are aplurality of separate tubes each connectable to one of said passages fortransmitting pressure therefrom to one of said pressure responsivemeans.

6. A pressure gauge assembly according to claim 1, wherein the gaugemember has a case including a removable magnifying cover plate, and saidcover plate is formed of a glass lens molded in a plastic rim.

7. A pressure gauge assembly according to claim 4, wherein the gaugemember is a plural gauge having a plurality of pressure responsive meansfor simultaneously indicating a plurality of pressures, the'bracketmember is separately connnected to a plurality of pressure lines and hasa plurality of passages therein each leading from one of said linestoward a surface thereof confronting said plural gauge on clampingthereof to the bracket member, and the tube means are a plurality ofseparate tubes each connectable to one of said passages for transmittingpressure therefrom to one of said pressure responsive means. I 8. A-pressure gauge assembly according to claim 7, wherein the catch means atopposite sides of the spring plate are counterparts, the catch means ateach side includes a center catch engageable with the projectable latchmeans and side catches engageable with the fixed latch means, and thetubes are centered laterally on the spring plate, whereby the gauge isreversibly clampable to the bracket member and by reversal of the springplate on the gauge a set of unbroken catches is presentable forengagement by the fixed and projectable latch means on breakage of acatch of the set previously engaged by said latch means.

9. A pressure gauge assembly according to claim 7, including in thebracket member a plurality of spaced apertures each interrupting one ofthe passages therein, valve means in each aperture and spring-urged forshutting off transmission therethrough and the related passage ofpressure from one of the pressure lines to the gauge, plug meansnormally inserted in each aperture from an end of the bracket meansmounting the projectable latch means and acting on the valve means insaid aperture for holding the related passage open, cam means foractuating the projectable latch means, and having an operating handleand a knob on each plug and normally overlapping said operating handlefor locking the projectable latch means in retracted position and thegauge against release from the bracket member except on removal of theplugs and closing of the passages by the valve means.

10. A preserve gauge assembly according to claim 3, wherein each tubemeans is a rollpin.

1. A pressure gauge assembly comprising a mounting bracket memberpermanently connectable to pressure line means to be gauged, a gaugemember, means on one of said members for releasably clamping said gaugemember to said bracket member, and means including tube means mountedagainst relative rotation on one of said members and receivable in theother member for sealingly connecting said members for passage of fluidtherebetween.
 2. A pressure gauge assembly according to claim 1,including spring means acting between said members for urging saidmembers together on clamping of the gauge member to the bracket member.3. A pressure gauge assembly according to claim 2, wherein the springmeans is a spring plate releasably secured to the one member andmounting the tube means, and including sealing gasket means seated insaid plate about said tube means and engaging confronting surfaces ofthe members for sealing therebetween on clamping of the gauge member tothe bracket member.
 4. A pressure gauge assembly according to claim 3,wherein the spring plate is secured to the gauge member and includingspaced fixed and projectable latch means mounted on the bracket memberand spring catch means on opposite sides of the spring plate andengageable by said latch means for releasably clamping the gauge memberunder spring pressure to the bracket member.
 5. A pressure gaugeassembly according to claim 1, wherein the gauge member is a pluralgauge having a plurality of pressure responsive means for simultaneouslygauging a plurality of pressures, the bracket member is separatelyconnected to a plurality of pressure lines and has therein a pluralityof separate passages each leading from one of said lines toward asurface of the bracket member confronting the gauge member on clampingthereof to the bracket member, and the tube means are a plurality ofseparate tubes each connectable to one of said passages for transmittingpressure therefrom to one of said pressure responsive means.
 6. Apressure gauge assembly according to claim 1, wherein the gauge memberhas a case including a removable magnifying cover plate, and said coverplate is formed of a glass lens molded in a plastic rim.
 7. A pressuregauge assembly according to claim 4, wherein the gauge member is aplural gauge having a plurality of pressure responsive means forsimultaneously indicating a plurality of pressures, the bracket memberis separately connnected to a plurality of pressure lines and has aplurality of passages therein each leading from one of said lines towarda surface thereof confronting said plural gauge on clamping thereof tothe bracket member, and the tube means are a plurality of separate tubeseach connectable to one of said passages for transmitting pressuretherefrom to one of said pressure responsive means.
 8. A pressure gaugeassembly according to claim 7, wherein the catch means at opposite sidesof the spring plate are counterparts, the catcH means at each sideincludes a center catch engageable with the projectable latch means andside catches engageable with the fixed latch means, and the tubes arecentered laterally on the spring plate, whereby the gauge is reversiblyclampable to the bracket member and by reversal of the spring plate onthe gauge a set of unbroken catches is presentable for engagement by thefixed and projectable latch means on breakage of a catch of the setpreviously engaged by said latch means.
 9. A pressure gauge assemblyaccording to claim 7, including in the bracket member a plurality ofspaced apertures each interrupting one of the passages therein, valvemeans in each aperture and spring-urged for shutting off transmissiontherethrough and the related passage of pressure from one of thepressure lines to the gauge, plug means normally inserted in eachaperture from an end of the bracket means mounting the projectable latchmeans and acting on the valve means in said aperture for holding therelated passage open, cam means for actuating the projectable latchmeans, and having an operating handle and a knob on each plug andnormally overlapping said operating handle for locking the projectablelatch means in retracted position and the gauge against release from thebracket member except on removal of the plugs and closing of thepassages by the valve means.
 10. A preserve gauge assembly according toclaim 3, wherein each tube means is a rollpin.